Anyone else started making Christmas Puddings yet?

[reallybadidea]

I make at least 4 or 5 every year for family and friends and I usually start them in the summer holidays so they've got time to mature. Also one less thing to worry about in November!

I've just put the first one in the slow cooker so it will be ready in the morning when I get up.

I shall probably do the cake in the next week or two as well! Anyone else?!

Not puddings, but I will be baking Christmas cakes in August!

I did Christmas cakes in August last year too and still have one being topped up with brandy here! Will start sussing who needs one and the baking schedule next month

I'll be making my Christmas cake this weekend, I've never made my own Christmas Pudding but i'd like to - how do you make it in the slow cooker @reallybadidea?

I've been using the Delia Smith recipe for years, then about 3 years ago I started using the slow cooker to cook eat. It's so much easier than steaming. I just put a plate in the slow cooker, put the pudding on top, turn it on to the high setting and then pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the basin. I cook a 1lb pudding for 6 hours and a 2lb one for 8 hours. You don't have to worry about it boiling dry because it's so gentle.

On Xmas day itself I do the same thing to reheat and give it another couple of hours. One year I left it for 5 because we hadn't got room to eat it until about 5pm It still tasted amazing. Doing it in the slow cooker also frees up space on the hob for other saucepans.

Homemade puddings are in a different league from shop-bought. People who swear they don't like Xmas pudding gobble this one up

Could I ask a thick question please?

Go for it.

You can get foil pudding containers, sort of dome shaped. Would they do okay in a slow cooker?

Not a stupid question! I think they'd be ok but I'd probably make sure that the foil containers didn't touch the sides of the cooker or it could potentially burn the pudding I think. Have you got a link? They could be useful for my friend who struggles to return my basin between Christmases!

I do mine in octopus half term!

October!

Saw some in Wilkos last year. They had card lids like takeaway foil trays do.

Good point about not touching the cooker sides.

Thank you!

I will keep an eye out for them!

Reallybadidea, you can get packs of plastic basins from Lakeland in a variety of sizes. Very good for gifts as you don't have to worry about them returning the basin (or not)

Also in Robert Dyas.

Though I've not had to buy many, as almost every time I've sent someone a homemade Xmas pudding, a few months later they've sent me back the basin filled with something else delicious! So not only are these basins lidded and cheap, they are also Magic Pudding Pots that never stop giving

Will be soon, I like the slow cooker method for my basin puddings but can't help but toroture myself and my worktops to make hung round puddings in muslin.... 7 hours hoping the jam pan handles don't give way!

reallybadidea is your pudding basin plastic or ceramic? I have inherited a stacked set of lovely thick ceramic ones and I sort of feel duty bound to put them to use. Unfortunately my great aunt took her recipe to the grave so I might give Delia's a go this year.
I'm wondering if I'd still need the plate in the slow cooker.

Also muslin.....what is it? Where do I get it? What do I do with it? Isn't there some wrapping or draping business? I think I'm intimidating myself away from attempting this.

My basins are ceramic. I put the plate at the bottom just because I'm paranoid about burning the puddings without realising, but may well be fine without.

In terms of wrapping, I put a piece of baking parchment and a sheet a foil together and make a double fold to create a pleat to allow it to expand when the pudding creates steam. I then put it over the top of the basin and tie it really tightly in place with string (a second person to help with putting their finger on the knots is useful!) After cooking I replace the foil/parchment with new ones. Does that make sense?

I have been thinking of doing my Christmas cake, but I expect I'll bake it next month. I look forward to making it every year

I've not made a Christmas pudding before, but I like the idea of using the slow cooker. I am also cooking for the family this year for the first time ever, so it would be lovely to offer homemade pudding.

which goes to the outside? The foil or the parchment?
I'm going to give this a go next week when DH is away and won't be making faces at the idea of Christmas pudding.

Foil on the outside.

Fruit and booze mingling together as we speak. All fingers crossed for tomorrow when I tackle making lids!

Thanks! Getting ridiculously excited now!

StepAwayFromTheCake Octopus half term has me guffawing in the garden

I love that people are talking puddings and cakes already. I'm suffering through the Lucifer heatwave and it is making me feel cooler.

Autumn leaves hot chocolate snow

Can someone recommend a good pudding recipe please. Going to attempt to make one for the first time ever

Delia's has never failed me!